398 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



strabismus. These symptoms have been attributed with 

 apparent reason to paralysis of the motor cells in the floor 

 of the fourth ventricle and aqueduct of Sylvius, since they 

 are a prolongation of the spinal motor tract. As the pupil 

 is dilated, however, by the application of much smaller 

 doses than are required by the mouth, it seems probable 

 that mydriasis results from local paralysis of the oculo- 

 motor nerve endings. 



Toxicology. — Poisoning in animals is exhibited by mus- 

 cular weakness, especially in the fore legs, staggering gait 

 and falling. These symptoms are followed by convulsive 

 movements of the muscles of the head, fore legs, and some- 

 times of the hind legs. The respiration is slow and difficult, 

 the pulse feeble ; temperature is reduced, and there is 

 sweating. Consciousness is preserved until the occurrence 

 of asphyxia. Death takes place from respiratory failure, 

 with almost simultaneous cardiac arrest. Morphine sub- 

 cutaneou.sly has proved a successful antidote. Respiratory 

 and heart stimulants should be employed in poisoning by 

 gelsemium, such as strychnine, atropine, alcohol, and digi- 

 talis, together with artificial respiration, after evacuation of 

 the stomach. 



Uses. — Gelsemium possesses little value in veterinary 

 medicine. There is no therapeutic use to which it has been 

 put that cannot be filled to better advantage by some other 

 remedy. Thus, gelsemium has been employed as a cardiac 

 depressant and antipyretic in acute diseases (pneumonia 

 and pleurisy), but its other actions are disadvantageous and 

 it is inferior to aconite, veratrum viride, or the modern anti- 

 pyretics. In spasmodic diseases, irritable cough, vesical irri- 

 tation, tetanus, chorea, etc., it is less satisfactory as a motor 

 depressant than opium, belladonna, chloral, and bromides. 

 Zuill, however, reports very successful results in horses from 

 gelsemine (.08 Gm.) in tetanus. The dose should be given 

 under the skin every half hour till muscular relaxation 

 occurs. The drug has been used considerably to relieve 

 rheumatic and neuralgic pains, but these succumb more 



